When Ruby returns to the hotel, it's later in the evening, and Qrow is passed out in one of the beds of their shared room. The sight isn't unusual, nor is it likely unwarranted after the day he must have had dealing with people he didn't want to deal with. She doesn't know exactly what he does, and she had primarily agreed to accompany him to Atlas so that he wouldn't have to be totally alone. That, and she really needed a break from tracking people down, something that's exhausting more than fun anymore.
She sighs and closes the door to allow the man to sleep peacefully, gods only know how much he needs it. Maybe she could find something to eat, somewhere quiet. The elevator takes forever to return to the lobby, and the staff is helpful in directing her toward food. As she walks down a hallway toward the buffet, however, a soft piano melody pulls her toward an open room, a handful of patrons sitting at small round tables while enjoying the live atmosphere.
Deciding to stay and listen, she enters the room and sits at a table, a waitress asking if she'd like anything to drink and checking her age when Ruby agrees to a small glass of white wine. Her eyes drift to the pianist, a woman with white hair loose over her shoulders, and her heart beats a little faster. The woman is beautiful, beyond compare of any other women she had met, and she's captivated by the way fingers glide over ivory keys, eyes closed as soft words flow from the woman's mouth.
The waitress returns with her wine, and she thanks her, eyes never leaving the woman at the piano. The song ends moments later, soft applause following the final note as the woman stands, allowing a man to take her place and begin another song. Fingers slide around the microphone near the piano, and the woman begins singing this song, and Ruby's stomach is fluttering.
This song is noticeably shorter, and the woman announces an intermission before leaving the stage. Ruby watches as she leaves the room as the new pianist begins a soft and wordless tune, and her feet move before she even thinks about following her.
She finds the woman at the end of the hall, speaking quietly to the waitress that had offered Ruby her drink, and the pair turn to her as she draws closer. The waitress raises a brow, soft smile in place. "Was there anything else I could help you with, Miss?" she asks, as though there wasn't another waitress in the lounge.
"Ah, no, thank you. Am I interrupting?"
The waitress snorts. "Hardly. I was wondering if you would actually follow her out here." She turns her gaze to the woman. "And I was right."
The woman pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs. "Yes, you were. Will you go now?" The waitress nods and touches her shoulder before returning to the lounge, Ruby's eyes following her for a moment before she returned her attention to the singer. "She's insufferable sometimes," the woman murmurs.
"Why did she think I would follow you out here?" Ruby asks.
"She's been describing you since you first arrived at the hotel and was very determined that you would eventually wander into the lounge because of 'the universe', as she put it." She sighs. "I'm Weiss, as you may or may not know. I'm not very well-known, but I am recognized sometimes."
"Ruby," she responds, smiling. "Would you like to get coffee with me after you finish singing? Or will that be too late? Oh, gods, who drinks coffee so late? Ignore me."
Weiss chuckles. "Dolt. Yes, I would love to get coffee with you tonight. I have just two more songs, if you'd like to stay and listen." Ruby nods. "Shall we return?"
Ruby's smile never leaves for the rest of the performance. She waits for Weiss as patrons compliment her and thank her for singing, and the waitress hugs her while speaking quietly before taking her own leave with a smirk toward Ruby.
They venture to a small café near the hotel, chatting about anything and everything. As they walk through the city, long after their coffees are finished, they share laughs and stories, hands fitting together and fingers interlocking. Ruby's scroll vibrates in her pocket and she fishes the device, reading the notification from Qrow wondering where she is, eyes widening when she realizes it's nearly dawn. "I'm so sorry for keeping you out all night! You probably wanted to sleep."
Weiss shakes her head. "If I wanted to sleep, I wouldn't have accepted your offer, Ruby. I prefer to sleep in the morning anyway unless I have something to do." She smiles. "I hope to see you again before you leave tomorrow morning."
"You will," Ruby promises with a grin.
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She sits at a small round table, gazing at the woman singing softly, and a waitress approaches her to ask if she'd like a drink. She agrees to a glass of white wine, her eyes never leaving the woman on the stage. Halfway through finishing her wine, the singer announces an intermission, and the pianist continues playing as she leaves the stage. She walks across the room, accepting small compliments, stopping at Ruby's table and smiling down at her before leaning down and kissing her.
"I thought you weren't going to be here for another week," Weiss murmurs against her lips.
"Oh, you know. I couldn't resist staying away from a beautiful woman any longer and wanted to surprise you." Ruby grins. "Besides, it is our anniversary. Would you like to get coffee when you're done?"
Weiss kisses her again. "I would love to."
